Bantham is one of South Devon’s most iconic coastal villages – a peaceful little community tucked behind a long sweep of golden sand, backed by dunes, rolling fields and a stunning estuary. With great surf, estuary swimming, food trucks, vintage vans and sunsets behind Burgh Island, it’s a place that somehow feels both remote and full of life.
The village has deep roots. Once part of the Bantham Estate and shaped for centuries by the St. Leger family, you can still feel that history in the traditional cottages and the low-key character of the place. Burgh Island adds its own sense of mystery, with stories of smugglers and links to Agatha Christie woven into local folklore.
Today, Bantham blends this heritage with a distinctive surf culture. In summer, the colourful mix of food trucks and converted vans gives the beach a creative, uncommercial energy that feels relaxed and welcoming. It’s simple, understated and unmistakably Bantham.
Many people return year after year. Families who visited as children often come back with their own kids, passing on traditions like the much-loved “Swoosh” in the estuary. Quiet, beautiful and full of character, Bantham is one of the South Hams’ most cherished spots – in summer or winter, for surfers, families and anyone who feels at home by the sea.
Why Bantham Is a Brilliant Place to Stay
Bantham is all about sea, sand, surf and scenery. The village itself is tiny – a pub, a well-stocked shop, a café and cottages scattered along the hillside – but that’s what makes it so special. It feels tucked away from the world in a perfect way.
Visitors wake up, stroll down to the beach and spend long, easy days in and out of the water with the soundtrack of the surf in the background.
Many people who first visited as children now bring their own families back – Bantham has a genuine generational pull, and it’s the kind of place people return to year after year.
The Beach: Bantham’s Star Attraction
Bantham’s beach is the heart of the village – a huge, ever-changing sweep of sand shaped by the tides. Locals plan their day around it: long walks when the tide drops out, lazy swims or surfs as it returns, and picnics tucked behind the dunes when the wind picks up. Because the beach faces west, it also enjoys some of the best evening light in South Devon, with sunsets behind Burgh Island that feel almost theatrical.
Low tide
At low tide, the beach stretches out into a vast playground of firm sand:
- A large, open area perfect for games and running
- Shallow tidal pools for younger children
- Firm sand for long walks and exploring
- Brilliant space for barbecues, football and cricket
High tide
High tide gives the beach a completely different character:
- A strip of soft, dry, golden sand
- Great swimming and paddling
- Gorgeous views across the bay
- Ideal conditions for relaxing and enjoying the scenery
The shape and feel of the beach shift hour by hour, which is why many visitors check the tide timetable each morning.
The Swoosh: A Bantham Classic
Ask any South Hams local about Bantham and they’ll mention the swoosh/float with a smile. It’s one of those simple pleasures you only find in places shaped by tides and estuaries. The Avon Estuary creates a gentle, natural water ride that feels magical for kids and nostalgic for adults who grew up visiting Bantham.
Depending on the tide:
Outgoing tide
Get in the water at the Coronation Boathouse, found down the lane on the right-hand side just before the carpark entrance, and let the current take you all the way down to the beach. There are a few places to climb out and jump in along the way. Just check the water is deep enough first and plan those exits carefully; miss your opportunity, and it’s too late!
Incoming tide
Hop in from the estuary beach and drift gently up towards the boathouse.
We recommend wetsuits for children and weaker swimmers to keep them warm and add a bit of buoyancy. It’s safe, gentle and incredibly popular (just always check tide times and local conditions before getting in).
Food & Drink in Bantham
For a small village, Bantham punches well above its weight when it comes to food. Because there’s no large-scale development here, everything feels independent, relaxed and true to the character of the place. Whether you want a pub lunch, a good coffee or an evening pizza with a view, Bantham keeps things simple in the best possible way.
The Sloop Inn
A classic coastal pub offering hearty food, cold cider and a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Perfect after a full day on the beach or a long coastal walk.
Bantham Stores
One of the best village stores in the South Hams. Expect:
- Fresh pastries
- Great coffee
- Sandwiches and salads
- Local produce
- Warm, friendly service
- Amazing views
Food trucks and converted vans (summer)
During the warmer months, the car park area comes alive with:
- Pizza vans
- Burger trucks
- Coffee buses
- Ice-cream vans
- Pop-up bars serving drinks
It’s especially lively on warm evenings, when surfers wander up for food and the whole area takes on a gentle festival feel.
Outside (Café, Events & Good Vibes)
Just a short drive from Bantham, Outside has become a bit of a local institution – part café, part event space, part creative hub. It’s where surfers, skaters, families and remote workers all cross paths, especially on weekends.
- Excellent food
- Great coffee
- An outdoor skate bowl
- A welcoming, social feel
They also host live music, comedy nights, film nights, skate jams and special food events, so it’s absolutely worth checking their website before visiting – there’s usually something happening.
Surfing Bantham
Bantham is one of the UK’s most reliable and best-loved surf spots. The beach faces straight out towards the Atlantic, picking up consistent swells that roll beautifully across the bay, making it ideal for both beginners and intermediate surfers. On a calm summer’s day, you’ll see kids catching their first waves alongside families bodyboarding together in the shallows.
But Bantham also has a more serious side. In autumn and winter, the swell can get very big, drawing experienced surfers from all over the South West. Even on those heavier days, it’s a spectacular place to watch the surf while staying safely on the sand.
During peak summer, Bantham is usually patrolled by lifeguards, which gives families peace of mind. Still, there’s one essential local tip:
When there are waves, avoid getting in the water on the left-hand side of the beach (as you look out to sea).
A strong rip forms here. Experienced surfers understand it, but parents should keep children and weaker swimmers safely away from this area. Look for the lifeguard flags and stay in the safe swimming zone.
With surf schools, board hire, rolling waves and that classic South Devon atmosphere, Bantham is one of the best places in the region to give surfing a try, but if that all sounds too much, simply sit back and watch the action.
Dog-Friendly Bantham
Bantham is a fantastic destination for dog owners, as long as you know where to go at different times of year.
The main beach has summer restrictions (May–September), keeping the busiest stretch clean for families. But you don’t need to miss out, Bantham has a brilliant alternative:
The Estuary Beach
Just around to the right-hand side, dogs are welcome all year. It’s:
- Open and spacious
- Sandy at low tide
- Perfect for running and digging
- Ideal for paddling in the shallow water
- A beautiful spot to explore with your dog
Outside peak season, when restrictions lift, the entire beach becomes one big off-lead playground.
For longer walks, the coast path connects easily with Thurlestone and South Milton Sands.
Discover dog-friendly holiday cottages in Bantham
Getting Around & Parking
Bantham has a large, convenient car park right above the beach. It’s ideal but bustling on hot summer days.
Local tips for the lanes
- Arrive early during peak holiday weeks
- Keep space between you and the car ahead (bunching causes blockages)
- Use passing places generously
- Stay patient – it’s the only way the lanes flow smoothly
Many locals avoid the main road and use the back roads that cut down from Thurlestone via West Buckland and emerge at the pub.
Most cottages have private parking, so once you’re in the village, you can walk everywhere. If you’re planning a supermarket run, try to avoid peak beach-travel times in the morning and afternoon.
Walking Routes from Bantham
Bantham’s setting at the mouth of the Avon Estuary gives you access to some of the best coastal walking in South Devon. The paths here feel wild but accessible, and the views across Burgh Island, Thurlestone Rock and the open sea are unbeatable.
Bantham → Thurlestone (3.5 mile loop)
This is one of the most walked sections of the South West Coast Path, and for good reason. The route climbs steeply up from Bantham Beach, giving you huge panoramic views across the bay, Burgh Island and the long sweep of sand behind you. It’s easy underfoot and perfect for families, with plenty of places to stop, sit on a bench, or watch surfers below.
As you round the headland, Thurlestone Rock comes into view, the natural stone arch that gives the village its name. From here it’s a short stroll across the golf course into Thurlestone itself, where The Village Inn offers a warm welcome, cold drinks and a very decent lunch before you wander back following the footpath past the church and behind the golf course.
Bantham → South Milton Sands (2.5 miles one way)
If you stay on the coastal path, things become even more scenic. The trail dips and rises along the clifftops, offering wide-open views of the sea, passing sheltered coves, wildflower banks in spring, and some of the best birdlife in the area.
Your reward is South Milton Sands - a long, beautiful stretch of coast managed by the National Trust. At the far end sits The Beach House, a laid-back beach café right on the sand where you can grab fish tacos, a cold drink or something sweet. Many people take a swim here before retracing their steps or looping back via the quieter inland footpaths.
Bantham → Hope Cove (3.5 miles one way)
This is a full coastal adventure, ideal for walkers who want something more immersive. The route takes you past Thurlestone and South Milton Sands before climbing over the headland to Hope Cove. The scenery is dramatic - rolling headlands, turquoise water on calm days, seabirds gliding over the cliffs and wide views back towards Bigbury and beyond.
Hope Cove comprises two sheltered beaches, Inner Hope and Outer Hope, each with its own unique charm. There are cafés, pubs, ice-creams and plenty of places to rest your legs before retracing your steps home. It’s a longer route, but one of the best coastal days out in this part of South Devon. Finish up with a pint in the Sloop before heading back to your accommodation.
Up the estuary to Aveton Gifford (3 miles one-way)
If you want a quieter, more peaceful walk, head inland along the Avon Estuary. This gentle route follows the water’s edge and gives you a real sense of the landscape behind Bantham - wide salt marshes, wading birds, reed beds and big skies. It feels rural and unhurried, especially at low tide when the river reveals sandbanks and channels.
The track eventually brings you to Aveton Gifford, a small village with a friendly pub and community shop. It’s an excellent contrast to the coastal paths and a lovely option when the wind is up or the beach is busy.
Who Bantham Is Best For
Bantham has a distinctive, timeless character. Days revolve around the tide, the surf and the weather, giving it a natural rhythm that holidaymakers fall in love with.
Perfect for:
- Families wanting easy beach days and safe swimming zones
- Older kids and teenagers who love surfing and bodyboarding
- Couples looking for a romantic coastal break with sunsets behind Burgh Island
- Surfers and water lovers of all levels
- Walkers seeking remote, scenic routes
- Anyone who wants peace, space and a slower pace of life
Not ideal for:
- Visitors wanting a choice of shops or cafés
- Anyone who dislikes narrow Devon lanes
- Nightlife seekers – Bantham winds down early
Bantham is simple, peaceful and beautifully uncommercial – a big reason why families return generation after generation.
Atmosphere: What Bantham Really Feels Like
Bantham has a special, nostalgic feel that’s hard to describe until you’ve been. Kids play until sunset. Families barbecue behind the dunes. Visitors float on the swoosh for hours. Surfers wander past with boards under their arms. And once you’ve been, something about the place stays with you.
Even in winter, Bantham has its own charm – empty beaches, Christmas Day swims, storm watching and cosy pints at the Sloop.
It’s one of the South Hams’ most loved villages, for locals and visitors alike.